Dorka Metal Craft

Source: TOI

Context: Prime Minister of India gifted a Dokra artwork to French President Emmanuel Macron during the AI Summit in Paris, showcasing India’s rich handicraft traditions.

About Dokra Metal Craft:

• What is Dokra Metal Craft?

• Dokra (Dhokra) is a non-ferrous metal casting technique, using the lost-wax casting method, which has been in practice for over 4,000 years. It is known for its primitive simplicity, unique folk motifs, and handcrafted designs without any joints.

• Dokra (Dhokra) is a non-ferrous metal casting technique, using the lost-wax casting method, which has been in practice for over 4,000 years.

• It is known for its primitive simplicity, unique folk motifs, and handcrafted designs without any joints.

• Region Found In:

• Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu. Adilabad Dokra (Telangana) received the Geographical Indicator (GI) tag in 2018.

• Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu.

• Adilabad Dokra (Telangana) received the Geographical Indicator (GI) tag in 2018.

• Features of Dokra Art:

• Handcrafted Metalwork: Made mainly from brass and copper-based alloys. Intricate Designs: Figures of elephants, horses, religious deities, lamps, jewellery, and tribal motifs. Two Casting Methods: Solid casting (South India) – Uses a single wax piece to create the mould. Hollow casting (Central and Eastern India) – Uses a clay core and wax overlay. No Reproduction: Each piece is unique, as the mould is destroyed in the process.

• Handcrafted Metalwork: Made mainly from brass and copper-based alloys.

• Intricate Designs: Figures of elephants, horses, religious deities, lamps, jewellery, and tribal motifs.

• Two Casting Methods: Solid casting (South India) – Uses a single wax piece to create the mould. Hollow casting (Central and Eastern India) – Uses a clay core and wax overlay.

• Solid casting (South India) – Uses a single wax piece to create the mould.

• Hollow casting (Central and Eastern India) – Uses a clay core and wax overlay.

• No Reproduction: Each piece is unique, as the mould is destroyed in the process.

• History & Cultural Significance:

• Origins: Dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization (Mohenjo-daro’s “Dancing Girl” figurine is an early example). Traditional Practitioners: Dhokra Damar tribes, originally from Odisha and West Bengal, later migrated across India.

• Origins: Dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization (Mohenjo-daro’s “Dancing Girl” figurine is an early example).

• Traditional Practitioners: Dhokra Damar tribes, originally from Odisha and West Bengal, later migrated across India.